I was fortunate to be selected through my process of a two part 5 hour auditions at The 3 Miles Studio last year and was successful and casted as a cast member in my role as a Volunteer "Mechanicals Audience Leader" PERFORMER, in both the opening and closing London 2012 Ceremonies - I was over-the-moon and so my Olympic journey & dream begun!
Our London 2012 Closing Ceremony rehearsal started sharply at 10:30am at Eaton Manor inside the London 2012 Olympic Park and a good 2 mile walk inside the park to the stadium where our dressing room was situated on Sunday 12th August 2012. Our Colourful orange London 2012 Closing Ceremony costumes awaited us - a bright orange very British Bowler hat, Orange Doc Martin lace up boots, pink trousers and a T-shirt with tie and waist coat drawn on it! I wore my trade mark, my pink feather earrings, to stand out from the crowd and which also stood for "Feathers for freedom" and wore my closing ceremony costume and Bowler hat with British Pride!
Soha Frem - Our Instructor from the London 2012 Mass Movement Team - went through The London 2012 Closing Ceremony programme with us inside our dressing room and our specific roles with us as "Mechanicals Audience Leaders" performers and at the precise time what actions and dances movements to demonstrate and perform to our audience members specifically to the songs "Park Life" "West End Girls" and One Direction "What makes you beautiful" as we gesticulated with our hands a camera shape and click click action to indicate to the audience to take photographs on the field of play!!!
During our afternoon rehearsals inside the stadium practising deploying our silk procedure for the athletes, Russell Brand joined us in the field of play and I was fortunate to get a photo of Russell and I Donna Africa together sharing a warm hug - what a lucky Gal am I as I am a massive fan of Russell Brand and his wacky warped and comedic very British banter and wit !!!
We also performed dance moves to Russell Brand "I am the Walrus" "Dynamite" and "Wonderwall" and got the crowd to sing-a-long and sway to Monty Python's legendary British song "Bright Side of Life" and ended with Queen Classic Rock song "We will Rock you" demonstrating to our audience to clap twice down and then punch hands up in the air a V-shape for the count and beat of two bars! This was a huge crowd pleaser and my audience members got up on their feet and participated with great gusto, spirit and pride!
I then teamed up with my Silk Partners in block 133 to deploy the silks on either side of the aisles to create a human blue silk barrier from the top of the stand to the stage to give our athletes safe passage to the stage, to be applauded and appreciated for their participation and hard work. I was lucky to have The Team GB go down our silk aisle and got to see our Team GB up close and personal! What an honour and experience and my heart was so full of pride and joy for Team GB and the atmosphere was both charged with electricity, unity, and Great British pride as we all saluted the courageous heralded Athletes.
Then in silence and with great respect we watched the Torch in the cauldron being EXTINGUISHED, the hand over to Rio de Janerio and of course ending the spectacular electrically charged Extravaganza Event with a big bang and a blizzard of confetti that reigned and rained and fell from the skies above!
I was deeply overcome with the great passion, love and creativity that Britain had showcased to the entire world and left with a deep glowing pride and satisfaction that we together as a nation had indeed put on the "Greatest Show in the World!" and felt humbled & honoured that I had played a part & participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games and been a part of British History in the making and extremely proud that my name Donna Africa Thompson immortalised as published and printed in both the opening and closing London 2012 Olympic Games Programmes in the Pre-Show and Volunteers page. This certainly has been a once in a lifetime experience and a dream come true for little old me!
I relocated to Norwich, UK from my homelands Zimbabwe to realise my dreams and I think I have, thanks to all the inspirational, creative and talented British People I have meet on my journey in realising my dreams of yesteryear here in the UK & I salute and thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
With Luv, Light and Liberty,
"The Queen of Dreams"
Donna Africa xxxx